As important as compensation is to attracting the best young employees, money isn't everything. But because we're numbers people, it might be unnatural to think of ways to incentivize employees with something other than cold hard cash.

This Fast Company piece on incentives doesn't ignore the monetary (or equity) element completely, however. The "idea bounty" does result in nominal financial reward, but what it really does is encourage innovative and creative ways to improve the business. If you have employees seeking to make meaningful contributions to your firm, considering, recognizing and even implementing their ideas rewards them in ways money can't.